they refuse to do that. >> reporter: even other republicans are split on john boehner's plan to avoid tax hikes all together and admit negotiations are going nowhere. >> nothing going on privately that's not going on publicly. >> reporter: republicans say the president needs to meet them halfway. >> he's got to be serious. he's offered more spending, more stimulus than offering any new cuts. >> reporter: and they insist there's good reason why people making over $250,000 a year should not pay more. >> when you raise tax rates, you're impacting the small businesses that create the jobs in this country. >> reporter: the back and forth is unsettling for the nation's governors, democrats and republicans came to washington tuesday with one message. >> you've got the to come together and get this done. >> reporter: and better do it quickly because we hit the cliff in 27 days. >> the clock is ticking. tracie potts in washington. thanks. >>> overseas now where more massive anti-government protests are occurring in egypt today. the demonstrators say the rallies are a last warning to president